A jury in Texas has delivered a massive verdict against Charles Brooks Jr., a wealthy heir to an oil fortune, for the brutal abuse of his two-year-old stepson. The jury ordered Brooks to pay $1.1 billion to the child, Blake Sampson, and his mother.
This is the largest child abuse verdict in the history of the United States. However, legal experts say it could take many years before the family actually receives any of this money because of the way the court system works.
The legal case currently stands as a primary warning to those in positions of wealth and influence.
Its primary mandate involves holding Brooks accountable for a horrific assault that happened on April 22, 2021.
At that time, Brooks was babysitting the toddler while the boy's mother was at work. Instead of caring for him, Brooks beat the child so severely that he suffered a brain injury and broken bones.
“The message the jury is sending is even if you’re in a position of power, we will... punish you severely,” said one lawyer who followed the case.
The injuries to young Blake will also absorb and expand upon the need for expensive, lifelong medical care.
A critical component of the "spicy" and tragic details is that the boy is now permanently bedridden and must use a breathing machine to stay alive.
When the mother first saw her son on a video call after the beating, Brooks tried to stop her from calling for help and even threatened to hurt her too.
One medical expert cited the "traumatic brain injury" as the primary reason Blake will likely never be able to walk or play like other children his age.
One of the most immediate challenges for the family is the "long way to go" to actually get the money.
Observers cited the appeals process as the primary reason the $1.1 billion might be lowered later. In many big cases, the person who lost asks a higher court to change the amount of money they have to pay.
“Rarely, if ever, does a plaintiff collect on the full verdict,” explained the family's lawyer, Tony Buzbee.
Because Blake needs doctors and nurses right now, the family might eventually agree to a smaller amount of money just so they can start paying for his care today.
The establishment of this "record-breaking" verdict follows a criminal case where Brooks already took a plea deal.
He is currently serving 40 years in prison for what he did to the boy.
While he is behind bars, his family’s wealth from the "Humble Oil" company makes it possible for him to pay at least some of the billion dollars, even if it takes a long time.
Director-level lawyers in Texas say this case will be a "benchmark" for all future child abuse cases in the state.
As Blake and his mother wait for the next step in court, the question remains: “Will this massive billion-dollar penalty actually help Blake get the care he needs, or will the wealthy oil heir use his lawyers to keep the money tied up in court for the rest of the boy's life?”, a question that will be answered as the appeals move forward over the next few years.